For though I should boast somewhat more of our
authority,
&c.] Than as yet he had done, or used to do; or rather the
sense is, should he boast of a greater authority than the false
apostles, or even than the true ministers of the Gospel in common
had, he should not exceed the bounds of truth and modesty; for as
an apostle he not only had an authority from Christ to preach the
Gospel, and administer ordinances, but also had an extraordinary
power of punishing offenders, as before observed:
which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not
for
destruction;
a power which no mere man, no creature, though ever so exalted,
could have given; none but Christ, who is Lord of heaven and
earth, and who has all power in his hands, could clothe with such
authority as this; and which is given by him, though for the
destruction of the flesh, or punishment of the body, yet for the
salvation and good of the soul or spirit, as in the case of the
incestuous person; and though sometimes for the destruction of
the individual person or persons punished by it, as in the case
of Ananias and Sapphira, yet for the edification, spiritual
instruction, and welfare of the whole community or church, of
which these were a part. So this authority was exercised on
Hymenaeus and Philetus, that either they themselves might not
learn to blaspheme, or cease to blaspheme Christ, or his
apostles, or the truths of the Gospel; or that others might be
deterred from such a practice; and so was for the edification of
the one, or the other, and the preservation of the whole.
I should not be ashamed;
as one that has told an untruth, or as a vain glorious man, who
has made his boast of what he has not. The apostle signifies,
that he should be able to make good such an assertion, should he
think fit to mention it.